Library Re-Opening Plan

Following Governor Burgum’s Declaration of a State of Emergency on March 13, 2020 and Mayor Brown’s Declaration of Public Health
Emergency on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grand Forks Public Library closed to the public beginning March 17, 2020.
The library closed in an effort to do our part in keeping our community safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19.

The Library Board and/or Director will consider the following when determining moving from one phase to another in the library re-opening plan:
1. The Governor’s State of Emergency has been lifted and the Governor has approved statewide re-opening of all businesses
2. The Mayor’s Public Health Emergency has been lifted and the Mayor approves local re-opening of all businesses
3. City and/or County offices are reopened.
4. State and local risk level indicators have been determined to be moderate or low.There has been a sustained reduction in new COVID-19
cases within the community for at least 14 days.
5. The healthcare system has the capacity to withstand a moderate outbreak.
6. The library has access to the necessary materials and staffing to maintain high hygiene standards while able to run all of its core
operations.
7. The library has access to enough staffing to run all of its core operations

In order to re-open the library in a safe and efficient manner, a phased re-opening is planned. The primary consideration in this plan is maintaining
the safety of library patrons and staff while finding ways to provide necessary services that the library is uniquely positioned to perform.

At any point, the Library can move forward and back between phases of the plan as warranted.

In all phases of the re-opening plan, the Library will implement the following:
1. Thorough and frequent hygiene procedures for cleaning and disinfecting common areas, including self-checkout machines, handrails,
keyboards, etc.
2. Staff required (encouraged in later phases) to wear protective gear such as masks and gloves while administering public services
3. Continuing to allow teleworking where it makes sense from an operational standpoint, especially for at-risk employees.
4. Offer designated service hours for vulnerable populations to use the library
5. Hybrid phases on various days may be utilized.
6. Will request all people entering the library to wear a mask and will provide a mask to those without one.
 Health Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
Emergency SD<1015 People SD<30 People SD<50 People No Restrictions
Shelter in Place Staff Only Incl. 20 Staff Incl. 20 Staff
Library Closed Closed to the public Open with <10 30 allowed Open with <30 50 allowed Open
Household groups Household groups Vulnerable user hours
Building flexibility flexibility offered
Vulnerable user hours Vulnerable user hours
offered offered
Library Staff work from home Staff work in shifts Staff work in shifts Normal staffing with Normal staffing with
Essential staff in- Strong social distancing 20 staff members per shift emphasis on hygiene emphasis on hygiene
Staff house for critical tasks Staff wearing PPE Strong social distancing Staff PPE encouraged Staff PPE encouraged
Vulnerable staff work Staff wearing PPE Vulnerable staff work
from home Vulnerable staff work from from home
home
Hours of Closed Limited hours for Business Limited Hours 9-6 Regular hours; Regular hours
holds pickup M-F; Subject to change open to the public Continue offering
Operation Mon/Weds/Fri Alternating days offering Continue offering vulnerable user hours
11-1 and 4-6 curbside pickup or vulnerable user hours
open to the public by
appointment
Continue offering
vulnerable user hours
Materials Online only Online encouraged Online encouraged Online encouraged Online available
Curbside holds pickup Stacks Closed open Stacks open Stacks open
Stacks closed Curbside holds pickup
Holds E-resources only Curbside pickup of Self-pickup of holds Self-pickup of holds Normal pickup
holds during limited Curbside pickup of holds Curbside pickup of holds Curbside continues
hours during limited hours during limited hours
Checkouts E-resources only Curbside pickup of Self-checkout only Self-checkout encouraged Normal checkouts
holds during limited (machines sanitized after (machines sanitized after Staff PPE encouraged
hours each use) each use) Checkout machines
 Staff PPE and social Staff PPE and social sanitized hourly
distancing distancing
Returns Book drops closed Book drops open Book drops open Book drops open Normal
No returns accepted Returns accepted Returns accepted Returns accepted Staff may wear gloves
Due dates extended Staff wear gloves when Staff wear gloves when Staff wear gloves when when handling returns
Late fees waived handling returns handling returns handling returns
Returns quarantined Returns quarantined Returns quarantined
72 hours 72 hours 72 hours
Due dates extended Due dates reinstated Due dates reinstated
Late fees waived Late fees waived Late fees reinstated
Meeting None None None Limited Limited
Room Use
Services Online resources Online resources Online resources All services All services and most
E-mail communication Phone and e-mail Fax/copy by appointment No newspapers, materials
Offered communication Phone and e-mail magazines, toys, puzzles, Gradually reintroduce
communication games, puppets, legos, etc newspapers, magazines,
toys, puppets, legos,
games, etc
Internet Library Wi-Fi 24/7 Library Wi-Fi 24/7 Library Wi-Fi 24/7 Library Wi-Fi 24/7 Library Wi-Fi 24/7
Three Five computers for Physically distanced Computers open
limited 30-minute use by computers (alternate) Sanitize daily
appointment Keyboard covers changed Hand sanitizer for
Keyboard covers changed and other surfaces patrons
and other surfaces sSanitized after each use
sSanitized after each use hourly
Hand sanitizer for patrons Hand sanitizer for patrons

Tech Help None Via phone or email With strong social With strong social Normal with staff PPE
distancing and/or via distancing recommended
phone
Programs Virtual only Virtual only Virtual continue Virtual continue Normal programs,
Limited in-person Limited in-person beginning with small
Offered programs (esp job-related) programs (esp job- groups pre-registering
with strong social related) with strong social and practicing moderate
distancing distancing social distancing
Make and take materials Make and take materials
 Outreach Online only Online only Limited to <10 people Limited to <30 people Normal
With social distancing With social distancing
Materials drop off
Materials Primarily e-resources Increase physical Increase physical Normal purchasing Normal purchasing
High-demand physical purchases purchases
Purchasing new releases Continue e-resources Continue e-resources
No music CDs No music CDs No music CDs
Materials Extremely limited Begin catch up on Normal Normal Normal
backlog
Processing
FOL Not accepted Not accepted Not Accepted Accepted on certain days Accepted
by appointment Donations of >1 box
Donations with 72 hour quarantine by appointment only